Event fundraising raises a lot of money in a short amount of time, but the annual gala and golf tournament can be expensive to run as well. Fortunately, securing sponsorships is a great opportunity to offset event expenses while giving companies the chance to promote their brand at your event. In a recent post, we looked at the importance of acquiring event sponsors, how to set sponsorship levels, ideas for publicity rewards and how to find like-minded potential sponsors. Today we will go over the nuts and bolts of your nonprofit's most important tool in sponsorship acquisition: the request letter! Check out 10 easy steps to craft a concise, enthusiastic and effective sponsorship proposal letter. Best of all, the letter doesn't need to take a ton of time. To assist, we are proud to unveil Winspire's latest free resource: a Sponsorship Kit! Click below to download the Kit with sample letters, forms and easy-to-customize templates that simplify the process from start to finish.

Developing a professional procurement packet for your auction committee will benefit both your team and the businesses they solicit for auction item donations. For your team, a procurement packet provides a way to stay organized, professional and on task. Prospective donors (businesses who you ask to donate an item for your auction), on the other hand, will appreciate being presented with professional documents containing clear information, and may be more receptive to an organization who looks like they have their act together. In this post we look at the most important pieces of an effective procurement packet. If you would like to download our own Winspire templates that contain all the pieces discussed below, you can download the Procurement Packet Starter Kit. To make your procurement packets as effective as possible, include these 3 essentials: 1. Procurement letter Face-to-face meetings are typical when asking individuals or businesses to donate items for your live or silent auction. For those you do not initially reach in person, you can mail, fax, email or hand deliver a procurement letter to their place of business. Just like face-to-face meetings, your procurement letter should provide clear information regarding your organization and how the item you are requesting will help your mission. More specifically, your letter should include: An emotional story and picture to tug at donors’ heartstrings and inspire them to donate. How donors will make an impact by donating. Opportunities for donors to be recognized for their contributions. A specific request for an item or service to be donated. How to donate an item or service. Your federal tax ID number so donors can write off their contribution*. The organization’s logo and mission statement to reinforce your goals. *Circumstances and state laws may vary. Consult executive management. 2. Donation form Donation forms are designed to ensure your committee members gather all of the information you need for each auction item they bring in. The forms are filled out by your team following the solicitation of an individual or business who has agreed to donate an auction item.